When
it comes to inspiration, a moment that sticks in my mind is signing up for a KaffeeKlatsch
with spec fic author Jason Nahrung* at 2010 WorldCon, Melbourne.

I
loved Jason’s The Darkness Within and
hungered for an author/fan coffee as we talked books and writing processes, but
I accidentally signed up to chat with Mr Smith**, a sci fi author whose work
was unfamiliar to me. When I arrived, the table was sparsely attended by myself
and two boy-men (that’s Gorian*** for boys in their late teens or 20s: not quite a boy, not quite a man).

Mr
Smith advised us not to become writers as we’d never make money from this
cut-throat, dwindling career, but the boy-men persisted in finding out where
his stories came from. This dumbfounded me because, as an imaginator****, my
life is littered with ideas. Ever since I could toddle on chubby legs, ideas have
inspired me, shaped my life and forced my sister to play victim to my many games
including cauldrons and eyeballs, spacegirls and aliens, and Mini-Olympic long jumping
from my bed to hers (we haven’t played this since an ambulance raced her to
hospital when she fell and hit her head).

So
I’m sipping on a latte at WorldCon as this galaxy-weary sci fi scribe convinces
us not to be authors when my fingers tingle
with magic as I overhear Rowena Cory Daniells at a nearby table, talking of
fantastical romances and handing out practical advice to career women struggling
to juggle their daily lives with their creative pens. She’s telling us that we
can do it, that we’re the authors of our own destinies and that we will make
it, if we keep trying and believing in our work. After all, we’re writers: It’s
what we do.

DarkSiders Cheryse
Durrant (www.cherysedurrant.com) and Rowena Cory Daniells (www.corydaniells.com)
are both presenters at this year’s WriteFest at Bundaberg (www.bundywriters.com) in May.

I
have adored Rowena’s books since I first read The Last T’En so after my accidental KaffeeKlatsch, I approached
her and we ended up sharing coffee. Her knowledge and passion filled me to the
brim and she encouraged me to believe. I know the DarkSide DownUnder is for
readers, but it’s also for authors and those harbouring dreams of writing. That
is why I’m sharing Rowena’s inspiration with you today (and it doesn’t just
relate to writing).

Don’t
let anyone put you down or make you think you can’t achieve your dreams, even
if your words haven’t yet blossomed and the road ahead feels long. Surround
yourself with inspirational people because the toughest part of being a writer
is not “finding the ideas” but dedicating hours (and years) and sweat and tears
to the stories inside you until they become as magnificent as the images inside
your head. You are the author of your
Destiny and you will one day achieve your dreams and give joy to others, just
as I have experienced joy from reading books by other amazing writers.

As
a debut author, I’m looking forward to sharing my first paranormal/urban
fantasy novel, The Blood She Betrayed,
(Book 1 in the Heart Hunter series) with
you in 2013. If I’d listened to the galaxy-weary author of three years ago,
maybe I wouldn’t have made it.

Believe
in yourself – that is the most Enchanted Orb of all.

*
Jason Nahrung pulled the plug on his WorldCon KaffeeKlatsch after a
nasty dose of vampire flu inflamed his larynx and stripped away his husky voice.
Honest.

**
This is not his real name. I cannot remember his real name.

***To
learn more Gorian phrases, read my book The
Blood She Betrayed… Out soon!

**** This is a
Whedonism that has not yet been used in any of his films or TV shows. It’s a cross
between a storyteller and a Terminator. If you don’t believe me, just ask Nicky
Strickland(but let me talk to her
first) J

Being another mum juggling too many ideas and too little time, I think I would have preferred Rowena's coffee chat to the other one too, Cheryse! Very exciting about your book coming out this year. Woohoo!

You'd relate well to Rowena. She has six children but she's written SO MANY books! Epic stuff. I've been loving your Dark Child series, Adina. Only one day away 'til the next Ep is released... AND I'm waiting with bated breath for the release of Imogene's Blood Bride :) Thanks for sharing girls. I love connecting with your talent and inspiration xxx

LOL I love that, Eleni. She is fabulous, isn't she? And what a small world that we were both there and didn't know each other! WorldCon was an epic event and opened my eyes to possibilities... and future worlds. Thanks for sharing :)